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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-8heet 1.

H. VAN HOEVENBERGH.

PAGE PRINTING TELEGRAPH. No. 316,681. Patented Apr. 28, 1885..

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

H. VAN HOEVENBERG-H.

PAGE PRINTING TELEGRAPH.

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HENRY VAN HOEVENBERGH, OF ELIZABETH, NEYV JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE BALTIMORE & OHIO TELEGRAPH COMPANY, OF BALTIMORE, MD.

PAGE-PRINTING TELEGRAPH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 316,681, dated April 28, 1885.

Application filed August 7,1884. (No modelil' To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY VAN HOEVEN- BERGH, a citizen of theUnited States, residing in Elizabeth, in the county of Union and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Printing- Telegraph Instruments, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the class of printing-telegraph instruments known as page and line printers.

The object of the invention is to provide an instrument for automatically printing upon a page of paper, in distinction from a papertape, with great rapidity, and to effect a number of impressions by a single operation of the presslever.

' The invention consists in constructing the parts in substantially the following manner: A series of type-wheels, preferably fifty in number and similar to each other, are placed side by side upon a type-wheel shaft with position to print.

which they are i'rictionally connected. These type-wheels are designed to be in succession placed in position to print the succeeding characters in a line of matter, and when the entire line has thus been set" up the impression is taken from each simultaneously by pressing the sheet of paper against the same.-

The following'devices are employed for setting the type-whcelsz' A vibrating escapement device is applied to the type-wheel shaft in the usual manner, and serves toactuate the same step by step. The entire series of typewheels are free to revolve with the shaft; but when the required character upon the first type-Wheel is brought into position to print it is automatically arrested and locked in that position. Thetypc-wheel shaft, however, continues to revolve until the character desired upon the second type-wheel is brought, into This type-wheel is auto matically arrested at that point, and in like manner the entire series of type-wheels are set." The friction between the type-wheel 'shaftand the individual typewheels is sufficient to cause each of them to advance until it is arrested by the corresponding detent.

that during a single revolution of the shaft 7 carrying the same the entire series of levers will be actuated in succession. -When, there fore, it is desired to actuate the first lever and 6 lock the corresponding type-wheel, the shaft carrying the pins is permitted to advance one step, and the corresponding pin, by striking against one arm of the locking-lever, throws the same into engagement with a ratchet-Wheel 6 carried upon the first wheel. The succeeding type-wheels are automatically locked, one after another, by giving the shaft carrying the pins successive step-by-step movements. Af

ter all the type-wheels havebeen thus brought 7 into position, the printing-lever is actuated, and this lever serves to force the sheet of paper against the line of type. The same movement of the printing-lever forces the lockingpavvl out of engagement with the correspond- 7 2 ing ratchet-wheels. i'zed by a local battery is employed for actu- An electro-magnet' vitalating the printing-lever. For the purpose of setting all the type- Wheels at unison preparatory to setting up a second line of matter, the device employed for releasing the wheels from their locking-levers is so organized that when actuated it will cause each lever to stand in such a position that a unison-detent carried thereby will intercept the path of a unison-stop carried upon the corresponding type-wheel. After theimpression is effected and the unison-detents are thus set, the type wheel shaft is again revolved, and

each type-wheel will be automatically arrested 0 at its unison-point by the unison stops and detents. A bar extending across the entire series of locking-levers serves to subsequently throw the unison-detents out of the paths of the unison-stops without causing the locking-pawls 5 to engage the ratchet-wheels. This bar is actuated by'a pin carried upon the ratchet wheel employed for locking the individual wheels are arrested when the desired charae 5 .ters are in position to print consist of a spiral One lever is provided for each type- 55 type-wheels, and it is brought into operation at the last movement of the ratchet-wheel required to set the same at its starting-point. Suitable means are also employed for feeding forward the paper after the line of matter has been printed.

In the accompanyingdrawings, which illustrate my invention, Figure l is a plan view of the series of type-wheels, the escapement device, and the locking -levers; and Fig. 2 is a diagram showing in elevation the several parts of the instrument, together with their connecting-circuits.

Referring to the figures, A represents the type-Wheel shaft,upon which are mounted fifty or any convenient number of type-wheels, B B 13 ,850. The typewheels are coupled to the shaft by means of friction-springs b,which enter corresponding grooves,b, formed in the type-wheel shaft.

The type-wheel shaft is provided with an escapement device consisting of a scape-wheel, O, of the usual construction, and an escapeinent-anchor, c, which is applied thereto. The anchor .c is actuated by means of a polarized armature, o, and two electromagnets, Ooand O, in thensual manner. The electro-magnets G and Oiare included in the main line,together with two other electro-magnets, D and E, the function of which will be hereinafter described.

Any suitable means-such as a weight or springare employed for driving the typewheel shaft when it is released by means of the anchorescapement described, and the type-wheels are revolved with the shaft .until they are purposely arrested.

Secured to each type-wheel B is a ratchetwheel, as shown at FFFi &c. fEach ratchetwheel is constructed with a number of teeth equal to the number of characters carried upon the periphery of the type -wheels. A pawl, it, carried upon one arm of a-correspond'ing lever, H, is applied to each of the type-wheels, and these paw lsare intended to arrest the corresponding type wheels in any desired position by being automatically forced into en gagement with the teeth of theratchet-wheel when the desired type has been broughtinto position to print.

The means whereby the pawls are actuated one at a time for the purpose of locking the t e-wheels consist of a series of pins, It

k ,-&c., which are arranged in a spiral line upon a shaft, K. These pins are intended to successively engage the extremites 72 of the levers H, and by passing beneath the same to thrust the corresponding pawls it, into en gagement with the corresponding ratchetwheels. During a single revolution of the shaft K each lever H willbe actuatedonce and all the type-wheels will be locked. Only one lever, however, will beactuated at a time, so

fore, that for the purpose of setting the entire .series of type-wheels it is necessary only to actuate the shaft K when the first typewheel is in proper, position to print the first character of the line, and to thus lock the same, and to then continue the revolution of the shaft until the second type-wheel is in position' to print thesecond character, and to then look this type-wheel in like manner, and so on throughout the entire series. The means which are employed for thus actuating the shaft K andlocking the type-wheels consist of aratchet-wheel, K, carried upon the shaft K, to which is applied a pawl, m, carried upon a lever, m. The lever on carries an armature, m", which is applied to the electro-magnet D, hereinbefore referred to. The magnet D isincluded in the circuit of the main line; butit is adjusted so as to respond only .to currents of greater strength than those which are normally employed for actuating the escapement. When the electro-magnet D is vitalized,.the armature m is drawn forward, causing the lever m to be actuatedin opposition to the tension exertedby aspr-ing, t. The pawlm thereby-causes the ratch et-wheel K to .be advanced one tooth, thus causing one of the pinsfk .to pass beneath the extremity of the corresponding lockinglever. When a succeeding type-wheel has been "brought into the required position, the electro-magnet Djisagain vitalized, by astrong current and the ratchet-wheel K is advanced a second toot-h. If there are fifty type-wheels inthe series, the ratchet-wheel K is constructed with fifty-one teeth, so that there will be, besides one tooth for each locking-lever, an extra tooth which is employed for actuating the ratchet-wheel for the purpose of throwing the unison-arms out of the paths of theuniso'nstops, .as hereinafter described. Instead of fifty-one teeth, however, fifty-two or more maybe employed, if vfound desirable, .andiit may here be observed that any other-desired number of type-wheels than fifty maybe employed.

Referring, now, to the means employed for lever 'Nca'rries an armature, 19, which is .ap-

plied to an electro-magnet, P. The electromagnet P is includedin the circuit of a local battery, 0. are designed .to be completed through the varmatureelever eand back-contact-stop, e, of

the .electro-magnet E, which is includedinthe main-lineconductor,ashas already been stated. The retractile spring t, applied to this arma- The connections of this circuit ,7

contact-stop,thus completing the connections of the local battery and causing the electromagnet P to be vitalized and the press-lever to be actuated.

For the purpose of unlocking the typewheels at the moment an impression is taken therefrom, a rod or bar, 1, is supported beneath the locking-levers by means of one or more arms, 'r, extending from the press-lever N. When the press-lever is actuated,the bar 1 is thrown upward, thereby carrying the locking-pawls out of engagement with the corre sponding ratchet-wheels. The friction, however, which exists between the type-wheels and their shaft, is sufficient to prevent them from being displaced during the operation of effecting an impression. The locking-levers are thus moved upward a sufficient distance to carry a series of unison arms or detects, a, which are respectively applied to and move with the locking-levers into the paths of corresponding unison-stops, a, carried upon the respectivetype-wheels. When, therefore, animpression has been effected,and the lever N is allowed to return to its normal. position, each of the unison arms or detentsisleft in the path of the correspondingunisonstop. Bysubsequent ly actuating the escapement device each typewheel will be rotated until it is arrested at its unison-point by means of the detent and stop. When each type-wheel has thus been brought to unison, itis necessary in some manner to remove the detents from the paths of the stops preparatory to setting the succeeding. line of type. For this purpose the ratchet-wheel K is provided with a pin, 1;, which is designed to actuate a lever, V, when the ratchet-wheel is again actuated after having locked each of the fifty ty'pe-wheelsthat is to say, after the ratchet-wheel has been driven forward by fifty successive impulsesthe pin 1) is brought into proximity to the extension 1; of the lever V, and the next succeeding movement of the arma ture-lever N serves to carry the pin 1) beneath the extension 12', thereby actuating the lever V in opposition to the tension exerted by a spring, t, which is applied thereto. The lever V carries a rod or bar, 0 extending above the series of locking-levers, and when the lever V is thus actuated each locking-lever is forced downward asufficient distance to carry the unison-detents u out of the paths of the stops to. Suitable limiting-stops, o and t are applied to the lever V, and one of these stops, c prevents the lever from forcing the locking-pawls downward a sufficient distance to cause them to engage the corresponding ratchwheels. In this manner the locking-levers are set in position to be operated by the pins is, as the type-wheels are again in turn set in position. Ihave shown in diagram three keys, W, W and'VV", in connection with a battery, 0, which illustrates the method of transmitting currents of the proper character for operating the instrument. The key W" is a polechanging key of any convenient form adapted to transmit alternating impulses from the battery 0 through an artificial resistance, X, to the receiving-instrument. .These currents are employed for actuating the escapemeut. The key WV serves to complete a shunt-circuit around the resistance X, and to thereby increasethe strength of current transmitted to the receiving-instrument. Such currents of increased strength. serve to operate the looking device through the instrumentality of the electro-magnet D. The key V serves merely to interrupt the circuit-connections of the mai 11 line, and to thereby allow the armature-lever e of the electro-magnet E to fall against its back contact-stop, thereby causing the electro-magnet P to be vitalized and an impression to be effected. Any other convenient organization of transmitting-keys may, however, be employed, as found desirable.

I claim as my invention 1. The-combination, snbstantiallyashereinbefore set forth, of a series of type-Wheels, a type-wheel shaft carrying the same, means, substantially such as described, for actuating said shaft, a locking device for each typewheel, means, substantially such as described, for actuating each of said locking devices in succession when its corresponding type-wheel is in any desired position, a printing-platen for effecting impressions from all of said typewheelssimultaneously, and an electro-magnet, its armature, and armature-lever for actuating said platen.

2. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, with a type-wheel shaft and a series of independently-movable type-wheels carried thereon, of a series of locking-levers and means, substantially such as described, for locking each of said type-wheels in succes sion, a printing-lever for effecting impressions from all of said type-wheels simultaneously, an elcctro-magnet for actuating the same, and means, substantially such as described, for unlocking said type-wheels.

. 3. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of a series of type-wheels, means, substantially such as described, for causing said type-wheels to revolve, a series of locking-levers applied to said type-wheels respectively, means, substantially such as described, for causing said type-wheels to be successively looked through the agency of said levers, a printing-magnet, and a platen actuated thereby for effecting impressions from all of said type-wheels, and a local battery for actuating said printing'magnet.

4. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, with a series of type-wheels and a type-wheel shaftwith which they are frictionally connected, of a series of ratchetwheels respectively applied to said typewheels, a series of locking-levers respectively applied to said ratchet-wheels, means, substantially such as described, for actuating said lockinglevers in succession, a printingplaten for effecting impressions from said typewheels, means, substantially such as described. for actuating said platen, a series of unison arms and stops respectively applied to said type-wheels, and means, substantially such as described, for causing said unison-arms to intercept the paths of said unison-stops.

5. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, with a series of ty pe-wheels, and atype-wheel shaft carrying the same,of means, substantially such as described, for independently locking each of said type-wheels in any desired position, and a releasing device serving to unlock all of said type-wheels simulta neously..

6. The combination, substantially as herein-before set forth, .of a type-wheel shaft and a series of type-wheels actuated thereby, means, substantially such as described, for causing said type-wheels to'be successively locked in any desired position, means, substantially such as described, for effecting impressions from all of said type-wheels simultaneously, and for successively arresting the same at their unison-points, and means, substantially such as described, for causing said type-wheels to be released from their unison detents preparatory to being again actuated.

7. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of a telegraphic main line, a series of type-wheels, a typewheel shaft for carrying the same, an independent device for actuating said shaft, a series of levers for independently locking said type-wheels in any desired positions, an electro-magnet located in said main line and responding to currents of greater strength than are employed for actuating said escapenlent device,an armature and armature-lever applied to said second magnet, a ratchet -'wheel actuated by means of said armature-lever, and a radial series of pins and a shaft carrying the same, actuated by said ratchet wheel, which pins are respectively applied to said locking-levers.

8. Thecombination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of a series of type-wheels, a type-wheel shaft with which said type-wheels are frictionally connected, means, substantially such as described, for actuating said shaft, a series of unison-levers respectively applied to, said type-wheels, and means, substantially such as described, for causing said unisonlevers to intercept or to be removed from'the paths of said type-wheels at will.

9. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, of the type-wheel shaft, a series of type -Wheels, means, substantially such as described, for actuating the same, and for causing them to stand in any desired positions independently of each other, a main line, an electro-magnet included therein for locking said type-wheels independently of each other, a local magnet for effecting in1 pressions therefrom, and a second electromagnet included in the main line for control ling the circuit-connections of said local mag net.

10. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, with a series of type-wheels and a type-wheel shaft wit-h which they are frictionally connected, of a series of levers for locking the same, a spiral series of radial pins respectively applied to said-locking-levers, and means, substantially such as described, for causing said pins to successively actuate said levers.

11. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, with a main line and a series of type-wheels, of an escapement-magnet, a battery, and a pole-changing key for Vitaliz-ing said escapement-magnet, a series of lockinglevers and an electro-magnet responding to currents of increased strength and acting through means, substantially such as described, to actuate said locking-levers, a local circuit, a press-magnet included in the same, and an electro-inagnet included in the main line for completing the connections of said local circuit through said pressmagnet and causingit to be vitalized when the main-line circuit is interrupted, and keys respectively serving to cause an increase in the strength of the main-line current, and to interrupt the main-line connections.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name this 26th day of June, A. D. 1884.

HENRY VAN HOEVESBERGH.

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